[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 150 (Monday, August 4, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45216-45217]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-17735]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XJ46


New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

[[Page 45217]]

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of a public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is 
scheduling a public meeting of its Scallop Advisory Panel, in August, 
2008, to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the 
exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from this group will be 
brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if 
appropriate.

DATES: This meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 20, 2008, at 8:30 
a.m.

ADDRESSES: This meeting will be held at the Radisson Airport Hotel, 
2081 Post Road, Warwick, RI 02886; telephone: (401) 739-3000; fax: 
(401) 732-9309.
    Council address: New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water 
Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, 
New England Fishery Management Council; telephone: (978) 465-0492.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The committee will review public scoping 
comments on Amendment 15 and provide initial input on a range of 
alternatives developed by the Scallop Committee to date. The scoping 
issues included: implementation of annual catch limits (ACLs); measures 
to rationalize the limited access scallop fishery; revision of the 
overfishing definition; modifications to specific aspects of the 
general category limited entry program implemented by Amendment 11; 
measures to address essential fish habitat (EFH) closed areas in the 
Scallop Fishery Management Plan (FMP) if the EFH Omnibus Amendment is 
delayed; alternatives to improve the research set-aside program; and 
modifying the start date of the scallop fishing year. Other issues may 
also be discussed based on input from scoping hearings and a previous 
Scallop Committee meeting on July 8, 2008. The committee will also 
review Scallop Plan Development Team (PDT) discussion of Section 7 
Endangered Species Act Consultation for the Scallop FMP (Biological 
Opinion). Overall, the biological opinion concluded that the scallop 
fishery may adversely affect, but is not likely to jeopardize, 
continued existence of four sea turtle species. Thus, NMFS is required 
to identify and implement reasonable and prudent measures (RPMs) 
necessary to minimize impacts of any incidental take. The Advisors may 
review PDT recommendations for how best to comply with these measures 
and provide input for the Scallop Committee to consider. The committee 
may discuss other topics at their discretion.
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before this group for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), 
those issues may not be the subject of formal action during this 
meeting. Actions will be restricted to those issues specifically 
identified in this notice and any issues arising after publication of 
this notice that require emergency action under section 305 ( c ) of 
the Magnuson-Stevens Act, provided the public has been notified of the 
Council's intent to take final action to address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

    This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, at (978) 465-
0492, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: July 29, 2008.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-17735 Filed 8-1-08; 8:45 am]
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